..."Evangelism is mission but mission is not merely evangelism" (Moltmann 1977)...."Mission is not a programme of the church but rather an attribute of God" (Bosch 1991).... "we are called to display what it means to be a colony of heaven mission embodies the total impact of the church on the world it's involvement with the social, political and moral life of the community and nation where it is placed" (Green 1990).... "The Church exists primarily for the sake of mission in the world. Mission is therefore the reason why the Church exists (Needham 1987).... "Mission comes first from the heart of God and we are caught up in it rather than initiating it (Bosch 1991)..."we seek to renew the face of the earth, all things and all peoples - that's mission" Archbishop Rowan Williams

Thursday, September 22, 2005

Transformation of division...

"It is important that we are all together… it is the kingdom, not aghetto we want to demonstrate.."

I remember when we first arrived at Poplar and started to think about how to be multi-cultural church in a multi-cultural area. I had seen models of church that had specific services for specific national groupings. We started to explore the potential, only to be de-railed in a conversation with some of our African church members.

It's a bit irritating that I can't remember who exactly wrote this. Anyway it is in the Urban Theology Reader...

"The Joppa story witnesses to the new things that the spirit of God is doing in the church and the world after the coming of Christ , and the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ in those empowered and called by the spirit to challenge exclusion, to transform division into communion and to draw the marginalised into the heart of the community of the people of God."

Not a bad ‘how to’ avoid church becoming a ghetto. Remember we are called to challenge exclusion. Remember we are called to transform division into communion and remember we are called to draw the marginalised into the heart of the community of the people of God.

And I think it is an attitude of mind rather than any working out of programme. Could be that your church is in Jersey (where when on holiday my daughter asked where are all the black people…?) but it doesn’t stop you being a church that challenges exclusion, transforms division into communion and draws in the marginalised.

I am left trying to get my head around ‘specialised churches’ for ‘specialised people’ are they able to challenge exclusion, transform division into communion and draw in the marginalised?

I am left trying to get my head around do ‘specialised churches’ for ‘specialised people’ demonstrate the kingdom or a ghetto.

I am left trying to get my head around whether I have been fed a church growth lie that ‘if you attend a church for the first time and fail to see someone like you in the first minute you are unlikely to return’. Or has Phil Yancey got something when in "Church why bother?" says if he sees anyone remotely like him within the church he never attends again!

10 Comments:

But what about language differences? This is the problem where we are now. I have such a burden for uniting the Estonians and Russians. But language is a real factor. We do everything in English and it is already translated into Estonian. When we are at SA camp, everything is then also translated into Russian. It takes forever! Would welcome your thoughts.

i think i just keep coming back to the word 'exclusion.' i believe God wants his Church to look simply like it would if we excluded no one from entering its doors, and as the quote said, really became intentional with our efforts to not only 'in'clude, but 'draw in the marginalized' (whatever they may look like)..

The logistics of language must complicate things.Looking at our parent and toddlers the Vietnamese mothers sit together, the Bengali mothers sit together, the Eastenders sit together – largely I presume because of language – are they segregated? I don’t think they are. There is an involvement with each other even when there may be a lack of understanding.

We don't as a church have major problems liguistically as English is a common denominator between all the nationalities - so I'm afraid I haven't much to offer in the way of advice, apart from trying to enjoy each others differences - food is usually good for that!

Gordon,I enjoy your insight. In SoCal one of the most diverse areas of the world the most segregated time is Sunday morning. I do not know why. Language and culture are issues but I think most people simply like sameness. Most like to worship with people like them. I don't know if its right or wrong but since I've never found a group of sameness for me (outside other college rebels) I guess diversity in worship is just as good. I mean at times I would enjoy church where everyone reguardless of race was semi-theologians and we sat around drank tea (or whatever for non-salvationists) and shared life with one anouther. But now I find myself in mostly african american church and I let that minister to me at times.

The issue is not an easy one. I just see a church divided. But what really is church anymore? I that not the problem? I just don't know.

My view is that church people like yourselves should stop looking at other people as being outside your club in terms of stereotypical social or racial groupings and try and see beyond such patronising labels. There's a whole world out there which is much more finely balanced than you can ever imagine. If you stepped into it sometime you might understand what I mean but by the language you use that looks like it might be difficult. If only you could hear yourselves. Your choice of language is so often so patronising and at times it is downright offensive.

Perhaps you should try and tell me a little about my context before you judge me so harshly. Perhaps when you tell me to step out in the ‘whole finely balanced world’ you should tell me a little of what I have been doing tonight. Perhaps you should tell me a little bit about who I have been hanging out with tonight, what we have been talking about what we have been laughing about. Before you throw the label bigot at us perhaps you should try and hear a little about what our church is about. But of course I doubt very much you would want to do that, because you are happy doing exactly what you accuse ‘us’ of doing - stereotypically labelling us. You don’t know me and you’ve happily pigeoned holed me. You don’t know what my life is about – but you’ve made your judgement – you don’t even know what race I am – you can only assume.

Thanks for adding to the dialogue but to be honest coming in here and shouting hasn’t really helped anything – but I guess that was never your motive. If you do want dialogue please point out where my language has been so patronising and offensive. If you want to lambaste – sign your name so at least we can be courteous :o).

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About Me

URBANarmy – are the thoughts and theological reflections of an insignificant Salvation Army officer trying to show true hope, grace, love and freedom in a significant way.
URBANarmy -is a story of Missio Dei driving an all-encompassing grace-centred mission.
URBANarmy – is an open compilation of lessons learned from day to day ministry, dialogue and reading.
URBANarmy – is Gordon who finds total fulfillment in demonstrating the Kingdom of God.
URBANarmy – is now the fusion and exploration of 'mission' and 'spiritual formation' while trying to inspire a new generation of Salvation Army Officers as to their role in God's plan for His creation.